Tuesday, 21 March 2017

A London "City State "intresting

Normally I would support "devolution all round " but I wonder what the real intention of Labour's David Lammy London plan to become a city-state if the “hardest of all hard Brexits” goes ahead.

Writing in yesterday's Evening Standard, the MP for Tottenham argued the capital’s future as a thriving economic powerhouse depends on being open to the rest of the world.

He said Scotland’s push for a second independence referendum should inspire Londoners to seek what is best for the capital as well.

He wrote.

“Whitehall has begun the devolution of control over adult skills, criminal justice services and employment support to City Hall, but Brexit changes everything, so it is perfectly rational to consider more radical proposals than piecemeal devolution,”“Let’s not forget that 60 per cent of Londoners voted to Remain. The referendum result sent a shock wave through the capital, but as the dust begins to settle, London finds itself increasingly constrained by — and at odds with — the policies and priorities of our central Government.“If Scotland can have another referendum on independence, then why can’t we have a well-overdue debate about London becoming more autonomous and independent from the rest of the country?“If Brexit was a victory of smalltown conservatism, resurgent nationalism and anti-immigrant sentiment, then London’s status as the financial and cultural capital of Europe depends on resisting these shifts.”

He added

“What has become clear since June is that the Government will not fight London’s corner in the Brexit negotiations. London’s status as a “de facto city-state” will become clearer over the next two years of Brexit negotiations.“The case for a London city-state has never been stronger. As Sturgeon told the SNP conference: we are not powerless, we can still decide which path we take. If you identify with London’s values, it’s time to fight for them.

I wonder If Mr Lammay's intention is to make sure that in the aftermath of a Hard Brexit there will be a move of some of London financial and other services may move North of the boarder

But Mr Lammy's is fighting for hos own patch and maybe it will get us to realise that unless we change our subservient attitude then we lose out particuarly after Scotland leaves and economic power increase in LondonLondon's devolved status and its finances became a key point when Jeremmy Paxman was taken to the cleaners byBBC current affairs programme, Newsnight. In the interview Dr ap Gwilym challenged Paxman on a variety of economic figures, particularly Wales was the telling him to "do your homework" when those figures were not readily available. Its always worth another look at.